State Legality MatrixSuppressorsDistrict of Columbia
Statute-cited, last verified 2026-07-10 · State detail verified 2026-07-31
Banned
No. Possession of a firearm silencer is prohibited as an illegal dangerous weapon.
Controlling law: D.C. Code § 7-2502.02
Contested entry
Silencers are among the weapons that cannot be registered or possessed; no hunting, sport, or self-defense exception. Related possession offenses appear under D.C. Code § 22-4514.
The statute in practice
District Code section 7-2502.02 identifies a firearm silencer among the weapons for which a registration certificate may not be issued, and District possession depends on registration eligibility. Related dangerous-weapon provisions operate independently of ATF's federal registration process.
What it means for you
A federal approval does not create a District registration certificate. Check both the device and the host firearm against the District's registration chapter before transport into DC.
Federal law
Suppressors are federally legal to own under the NFA. As of January 1, 2026 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed July 2025) zeroed the federal making and transfer tax on suppressors, formerly $200. Form 4 or Form 1, fingerprints, the NICS background check, and NFA registration are all still required; ATF eForm approvals currently run days to a couple of weeks.
Scope: Firearm suppressors (silencers) as defined by the NFA. Federal NFA compliance (Form 4 or Form 1, fingerprints, NICS, registration) is required everywhere they are legal.
Common questions
No. Possession of a firearm silencer is prohibited as an illegal dangerous weapon. Controlling law: D.C. Code § 7-2502.02.
The controlling law is D.C. Code § 7-2502.02. Possession of a firearm silencer is prohibited as an illegal dangerous weapon.
Suppressors are federally legal to own under the NFA. As of January 1, 2026 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed July 2025) zeroed the federal making and transfer tax on suppressors, formerly $200. Form 4 or Form 1, fingerprints, the NICS background check, and NFA registration are all still required; ATF eForm approvals currently run days to a couple of weeks.